BAGUIO City archer Kareel Meer Hongitan shoots for the top plum as she joins the Philippine contingent set to challenge other neighboring countries in the upcoming 2015 Southeast Asian Games in Singapore this coming June.
Two months before the annual international sports race, Hongitan sets her sight to be among the Philippines' top shots in the event.
Archery coach and father John Hongitan said his daughter is already setting her goals this early.
"Kareel at present is optimistic in the upcoming SEA Games, so far she takes her training seriously after her first international outing last March," the older Hongitan said.
Last month, the 17-year-old archer also joined the Philippine contingent in the recently concluded Asian Grand Prix in Bangkok, Thailand.
"Unfortunately the Philippine team who competed in Thailand landed fourth sa team events pero according to the Philippine Archers National Network and Alliance Inc. (PANNA) it was not bad at all since there a lot of international teams who competed," John Hongitan said.
"Hopefully they can have a better finish in the SEA Games since in the ranking of all the Asian countries who participated in the recent tournament in Thailand, number two ang Philippines," he added.
Kareel Hongitan is currently ranked as the second best female marksmen all-over the country in the recently concluded PANNA World Archery Championship qualifiers held earlier in January.
Together with Hongitan, other members for the 2015 Philippine women's archery team (recurve) are 2012 London Olympian Rachelle Ann Cabral-dela Cruz, Youth Olympic Games participant and US Open gold medallist Bianca Gotuaco, Philippine National Games winner Crizabelle Merto.
The BS Tourism student from the University of Baguio is also preparing for the WAC set this July in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Source: Sun Star / Mark Victor Pasagoy
